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Cards and flowers are seen outside The Curry House in Owen Sound on August 22, 2023, after its owner, Sharif Rahman, was assaulted at his restaurant on August 17. He’s in critical condition. Some of the notes posted read “We are so sorry this happened to you. We love your restaurant,” and “Your community loves you.” Photo: Scott Miller[/caption]
Bangladeshi restaurateur Sharif Rahman (44) was killed in an attack by miscreants in Wayne Sound, Ontario, Canada. He owned a restaurant named The Curry House.
Sharif Rahman was working last-minute with staff to close the restaurant on the night of August 17. Then three people were leaving without paying the food bill. When Sharif went outside and tried to stop them, the three attacked him. After the attack, the seriously injured Sharif was taken to a hospital in London, Ontario. There he was kept on life support. Doctors declared Sharif dead late on August 24. His body has been kept at the hospital for post-mortem.
Sharif's nephew was there during the attack. He was slightly injured in the incident. Police have not arrested any of the three attackers so far. However, the CCTV camera released the picture of the car with them.
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An undated image of Sharif Rahman, owner of The Curry House in Owen Sound. As of August 22, 2023, he is in critical condition following an assault at his restaurant on August 17. (Source: Facebook)[/caption]
It is known that Sharif Rahman studied at Shahjalal University in Sylhet, Bangladesh. He then did his MPhil from Cambridge University. His wife Shaila also studied at Shahjalal University in Sylhet. They have a seven-year-old daughter. After graduation, Sharif Rahman immigrated to Canada. In 2015, he started a restaurant business called Curry House.
The town of Wayne Sound is a small town. 33 thousand people live in this city of only 24 square kilometers. His death has cast a pall over the Bangladeshi community in Canada and the town of Wayne Sound. The people of the city organized a mourning procession.
"I actually met Sharif before I met my husband, David. His food was the first food we had on our first date. He's always been one of the most beautiful people we've had an honour to meet," said Brittany Knight.
City Mayor Ian Boddy offered his condolences to Rahman's family, saying,
"Sharif was an exceptional member of the community in our community who dedicated his time to city and county committees. He was also a successful entrepreneur and a devoted family man. His passing is a sad event for our community."
City flags were flown at half-mast at City Hall in Wayne Sound on August 25. A makeshift memorial has been erected in front of his restaurant, to which ordinary people have paid their respects. A group called '
GoFundMe' has taken the initiative to raise 250,000 Canadian dollars to help his family. Within a few hours, $198,700 in aid was received. Sharif's funeral and where the body will be buried has not been informed by the family so far.
Detectives say video from the evening shows citizens and vehicles in the area of 2nd Avenue East at 10th Street East and 2nd Avenue East at 9th Street East when the incident occurred and when the suspects were fleeing.
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Police release images of two men accused in a violent assault on Aug. 17, 2023, in Owen Sound, Ont., and the suspect vehicle. (Source Owen Sound Police)[/caption]
Police say the suspect vehicle is a grey or blue 2000s-model Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute.
They encourage witnesses or anyone with video or dash cam footage of the area from 8 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. to contact police at 519-376-1234. Alternatively, tips can be provided anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.